Ricardo "Ricky" Barraza

Funeral services will be conducted by Peters Funeral Home with Recitation of the Holy Rosary being held at St. Therese's Catholic Church for Ricardo "Ricky" Barraza, age 24, on Thursday, March 30, 2006, at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 31, 2006, at 10 a.m., at St. Therese's Catholic Church. Father Pedro Umana of St. Therese's Catholic Church will officiate; Major Paul R. Lesley Chaplain of the 75th Ranger Regiment of the United States Army will also be offering words of comfort. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hill of Valor. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2006, from 2-5 p.m., at Peters Funeral Home, 844 E. Lerdo Hwy. Shafter, CA. 93263. The United States Army Rangers from the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment will be serving as casket bearers. Ricky was born in Toppenish, Washington, on May 31, 1981, to Francisco Javier and Nina Barraza. He graduated from Shafter High School in 1999, where he was an accomplished athlete who played basketball, football and track; Ricky was very close to his coaches and some of his teachers. Ricky chose to dedicate his life in service to his country; he enlisted in the United States Army on August 5, 1999. Ricky loved the small community of Shafter and cherished the times that he was able to come home and visit. He loved traveling and seeing the world. Ricky had great respect for the military and was very proud to be a U.S. Ranger. Staff Sgt. Ricardo Barraza was a squad leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington. He died of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Iraq on March 18, 2006. He completed One Station Unit Training, airborne school and Ranger Indoctrination Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Assigned to 2nd Ranger Bn., in March 2000, Barraza served in every position of a Ranger rifle squad. Ricardo was a six-time veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, deploying three times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ricardo's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with Oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with a two knot rope, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Korean Parachutist Wings, Jordanian Parachutist Wings, and Ranger Tab. He was also awarded posthumously the Purple Heart. Ricky was preceded in death by his grandmother, Maria Del Refugio Barraza in 2003. He is survived by his parents Francisco Javier Barraza and Nina Barraza of Shafter; brother, Frank Barraza, Jr., and his children, Aaron Esteban and Nathaniel Barraza of Sunnyside Washington; sisters, Jamie Rosalez and her children, Tre, Audrey and Dion, of Sunnyside, Washington; Amanda Barraza of Buttonwillow and Rachel Barraza of Shafter; grandparents, Jose Z. and Maria Gonzalez of Kerman; and Francisco Barraza of Jalisco, Mexico; fiancée, Meghan Harrington and her daughter, Kayla of Lacey, WA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ricky Barraza Scholarship Fund at Shafter High School, 526 Mannel Ave. Shafter, Ca. 93263 (661) 746-4961. Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing that hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high "Esprit de corps" of my Ranger Regiment... - FIRST STANZA OF THE RANGER CREED. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY! Staff Sgt. Ricardo Barraza "Ricky" May 31, 1981 March 18, 2006 Peters Funeral Home-Shafter Legacy.com